The Postponement Of The 2022 Asian Games Has A Big Impact On The Budget, Ketum KOI: Preparing An Additional 1 Year Of Athletes Is Not Cheap

Chairman of KOI Raja Sapta Oktohari (right) with President Jokowi (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari said the postponement of the 2022 Asian Games in China would have a major impact on budget swelling.

"I say that the biggest impact is financial, because financially, it is not cheap to prepare athletes for an additional year," Oktohari said as quoted by Antara, Sunday.

In addition to the budget, the postponement, said Okto, also affects the readiness of the athletes. Athletes who have been prepared to reach peak performance at this year's Asian Games actually have to re-prepare.

Although very regretful, Okto said that COVID-19 was a real threat so that the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) would support host China so that they could continue to hold the Asian Games next year.

Meanwhile, Indonesian rowing athlete, Ferdiansyah, has a different view regarding the decision to postpone the Asian Games. According to him, the delay has made him and his team have a longer time to prepare for the four-year multi-event.

"If you look at this postponement, I think there are advantages and disadvantages. Fortunately, we can prepare longer for the Asian Games. But the disadvantage is that we will sacrifice everything, such as time, material, family," he said.

The 2022 Asian Games, which were supposed to be held in September this year in Hangzhou, were decided to be postponed indefinitely as China is battling a re-emerging COVID-19 case.

No clear reason was given by the organizers for the postponement. The new schedule for the quadrennial multi-professional championship has not yet been determined and will be announced at a later date.

The Asian Games host city Hangzhou is located near China's largest city, Shanghai, which has been in lockdown for several weeks.